Purple Martin Forum

Thank you. I check my nests each day and need to. I had four nestlings on the ground and had to re nest them already. I have 2 male subbies that are being very bad right now, they have cleaned out two nests and are courting the females, who I guess were single moms. This is a hard start for me, I ha...

I have transferred 3 nestlings already as of yesterday. I had a subbie that threw them out to take over the nest. I have done it in the past and it has worked each time. I feed them meal worms or crickets and place them where they need to be and record it. I always make sure I match their age/size, ...

I am in central Louisiana. I have a 51 active nest colony with 106 nestlings and 117 eggs. My oldest clutch is 11 day old today. I am asking if anyone can do some nest checks on my colony while I am away May 24 to May 30. I am nervous about leaving them for that long. I do nest checks daily and have...

I am not familiar with riverbirch trees. I have not ever seen bark used. It is strange this year to have the 3 types of nests here. I have not had just pinestraw or just sticks before. The pinestraw is neat, woven into a nice nest, cool. I have had an egg on ground and told they know when one is not...

Welcome, and I hope the martins come your way and have a great season. I am in Louisiana and we are enjoying the warmth today. Our eggs are underway already...hang in there, your time is coming soon !!

All is well at Robin's Nest in Louisiana and I hope everyone is having a great season....happy to announce I have 54 eggs in 36 nests already!! I have cavities that are nest building like crazy the last few days, so more nests to come soon..... This is odd for me...I have 3 specific types of nests t...

I agree Craig. I use the baffles too. I had two snakes in 1 month my first year as a landlord, before I knew better. We caught a snake going right up that pole with marine grease on it!! To get it off the pole and into a box made us laugh at my husband because it was dark outside, he took off into t...

I will make my comment then bow out of this.... I don't understand why you would want to annihilate the sparrows by encouraging and baiting them to COME to a specific area, as in the trap...you would be doing that all day and all week long, for what?? to kill innocent sparrows that really would not ...

why are you baiting to catch a sparrow?? You should get them in a trap in a cavity that they continue to rebuild a nest in....I don't understand why you are putting food into a trap?? That is attracting them....I think you are missing the point here of sparrow control.....

thank you for being kind to snakes. We catch and release into the woods by the bayou. They just need to be re-directed. It is funny to watch my 200 pound husband freak out. he is afraid of snakes. My 16 year old daughter and I usually just say...step aside there, we got this.. about re-directing tho...

Wow Steve, thank you for sharing the photos. I wish I could sit on your porch with my morning cup of coffee and enjoy the "noise" at your place, lol !! I have my nestcam in and turn up the volume on the TV...I can't imagine what you hear each morning....delight to the ears.... You have an ...

Waydog, since you are near me...have a scope?? can you see if females have a part running down their chest, like their feathers are parted like a hairline part?? My martins arrived Feb 2 and females have this weird line where the feathers part. what is up with that?? Today, 3/23 they do look a littl...

If you do find a martin that is just head and wings left, it was probably a shrike. The shrike here tore off the breast after it poked holes in her head as she sat on her porch. She never had a chance, sadly. It was visously disturbing and fast my husband said. If the shrike hangs around....feed it,...

I will talk to them tomorrow and send you a pair, lol....
From the scout report map they are on the move up your way...get ready !!
Wish you a great season!! I know it is hard to wait...
I sit on pins and needles all January and February waiting on that wonderful sound in the skies. Take care

I agree dsonyay, they are certainly mad masked !! lol. I hope your season goes well. It is March 22 and I already have nests...crazy early !! Sandy, thank you for the consolation. I hate starting out with a death. There is a rainbow though, I have nests already and many subadults that came here in t...

That is great news, Steve !! I have many martins here in Louisiana and early this year. March 20 they are nest building already and at the end of the day, my first subadult male, who was not well received by any. There is still room here in my 2 Trendsetter 28s, and I have over 40 martins already......

Before March 20, have 12 pair adult martins and many singles not paired and no subadults. March 20 morning I get up to see martins flying and nest building!! This is crazy early. Last year twigs in few cavities April 10!! I saved twigs and pin oak leaves from winter in a huge tub in the attic. I spr...

I share that same sentiment....we have a pet cemetary in our yard with marble markers and caskets. We have a special area for the martins too! Nature is so special. I want to pass with a clean conscience that I helped and took care of the creatures that can't speak for theirselves, even with a buria...

I had the gnats too !! Mrs. Louise suggested a spray for me to use on the house and BOOM they were gone. I don't have the bottle with me at this time. I had to re apply every other day for a week or two, but they did disappear. Now I watch daily to make sure I don't get them again. That was a bad sc...

Yes, shrike pecked big holes in the back of the martins head killing it and instantly started tearing the breast off of it before Keith could get outside and scare it away. He is certain it was the shrike because we saw it in our yard on our mailbox at driveway and took a pic and id'd it days before...